Railroad-crossing



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

A. P. KUHL & G. PQLAMPE. RAILROAD CROSSING.

No. 439,280. Patented om.. 28, 1890;

3 Sheets-Sheet 2. A.' I. KUHL & C. F. LAMPE.

RAILRQAD CROSSING.

` Patented Oct. 28, 11890.

me mams Pneus co., mqro-m-no., Mmmm-ou, n, c.

x. u, I..

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

A. I'. KUHL an c. I'. LAMPE. RAILROAD CROSSING.

No. 439,280. Patented 001;. 28. 1890.

NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT F. KUHL AND CHRISTIAN F. LAMPE, OF VAN IVERT, OHIO.

RAILROAD-CROSSING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 439,280, dated October28, 1890.

Application filed July 25, 1890. Serial No. 359,868. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, ALBERT F. KUHL and CHRISTIAN F. LAMPE, citizens ofthe United States, residing at Van Wert, in the county of Van Wert andState of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Railroad-Crossing, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to railroad-crossings and it has for its objectto construct a crossing of such a nature that a large number ofintersecting railroads may avail themselves of the same crossing.

f Our improved crossing is in the nature of a turn-table carrying atrack-section of any desired length and equipped with means forretaining the said track-section in alignment with any one of theintersecting tracks.

The invention specifically consists in the improved construction,arrangement, and combination of parts, which will be hereinafter fullydescribed, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of our improvedrailroad-crossing. Fig. 2 is a' transverse sectional view taken on theline 2 2 in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a perspective detail view of the ties 29,the sliding rods 30 and 31, and the mechanism for operating the latter.Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view taken centrally through theadjustable track-section. Fig. 5 is a detail view of one of the pivotedsignals or guards.

Like numerals of reference indicate like parts in all the gures.

Our improved railroad crossing may be made available as a crossing forany desired :number of intersecting railroad-tracks. In the drawingshereto annexed we have i1lustrat'ed it as applied to a crossing wherefive such tracks intersect, the terminals of the said tracks beingdesignated, respectively, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 and 1, 2, 3, 11, and 5.Centrally between the said termini of the said track and concentrictherewith is arranged a platform 6, supporting a turn-table 7. Thelatter rests upon supporting wheels or rollers 8, which are journaled insuitable bearings in the base `or platform and serve to reduce frictionto a minimum. The under side of the turn-table is provided with acircumferential seriesl of teeth or prongs 9, meshing with a spur-wheel10, which is secured upon the inner end of a shaft 11, journaled insuitable bearings in a position radial to t-he turntable. Thevouter endof the shaft 11 carries a larger spur-wheel12, meshing with a smallerspur-wheel or pinion 18, which is mounted upon a shaft 14, journaled insuitable bearings in a stand or frame 15. The shaft 13 is provided atits ends with cranks 16, by means of which it may be readily manipulatedto operate the turn-table.

Upon the turn-table 7, the diameterof which need not exceed eight feet,is constructed a track-section 17, which may in practice be of anydesired length up to sixty feet or more..

The rails composing the said track-section are to be connected bytransverse braces 1S and truss-rods 19, by which construction lightnessis combined with great strength. Segmental tracks 2O are constructedconcentric with the pivot ot' the turn-table, and these tracks supportwheels or rollers 2l, journaled in suitable bearings upon the under sideofi the track-section 17 In the detailed construction of the device weprefer to make the turntable 7 dishing on its under side and to providethe base or platform G with a central upwardly-extending pintle 22, uponwhich the said turnjtable is journaled. By this construction thesurfaces that come in frictional contact with each other are limited, asfar as practicable. The upper side of the turn-table is provided betweenthe rails of the track-sec-V tions 17 with a rectangular recess 23, inwhich is seated a plate 24, having a central opening 25, which tits overthe pintle 22. The latterhas a screw-threaded recess or socket 26 toreceive the securing bolt 27 under the head of which a washer 2S isarranged. This construction is exceedingly simple and inexpensive, aswell as durable and efiicient. 'lhetrack-section 17 is to be connectedwith the turn-table detachably. It follows that when the track portionof the toothed or cogged under side of said turntable which is inengagement withthe spurwheel l0 has become worn the track-section may beloosened from the turn-table, and the latter may be partially turned, soas tocause a new and perfect toothed portion of the said turn-table tobe placed in engagement with the spur-wheel l0.

The foundation of our improved railroadcrossingis provided adjacent t0the turn-table with suitable arranged stringers and crossties to supportthe movable track-section during the operation of the device. Adjacentto one of the supporting-ties 29 on each side of the turn-table, andsliding in suitable bearings attached to such supporting-ties, are apairof oppositely-sliding rods. (Designated, respectively, by 30 and3l.) The said rods are connected by means of links 32 and 33, withoppositely-extending cranks 34C and 35 upon rock-shafts 36, the ends ofwhich are provided with operating-levers 37, the free ends of whichcarry weights 3S, serving to retain them in any position to'which theymay be adjusted. To the ties 29, in alignment with the terminals of theintersecting railroad-tracks, are pivoted levers 39 and 40, the lowerends of which are extended through staples 4l upon the slide-rods 30and31, respectively. It will be seen that by manipulating the rockshaft 36the said slide-rods are moved simultaneously in opposite directions.Vhen moved in different directions, the upper ends of the levers 39 and40 will be lowered to a position level with the upper side of thesupporting-tie 29. 'When moved in the opposite direction', the upperends of the said levers will be extended in an upward direction. Whenthel former position is assumed, the track-section- 17, mounted upon theturn-table, may pass unobstructedly over the said levers. Then the endsof the said movable track-sec;- tion have been brought into alignmentwith the terminals of any one of the several tracks, the rock-shafts 36are manipulated to throw the ends. of the levers 39 and 40 in an upwarddirection,when they will bear against the inner sides of the rails ofthe movable tracksection, thus locking the latter securely in thedesired position.

In the foundation of the crossing, and in alignment with the terminal ofthe several intersecting tracks are mounted the pivoted Signal levers orguards 43, the lower ends ot' which are weighted, as shown at 44, so asto keep the said levers normally in an upright or vertical position,thus indicating to approaching trains that the crossing is open. Vhenthe movable tracksection swings into alignment with the terminals of anyone of the intersecting tracks, the ends of said movable track-section,engaging the said pivoted guard-levers, will depress the latter andswing them out of the way, thus removing the danger-signal from the lineof track over whic travel is unobstructed.

The operation and advantages of this inventionwill be readily understoodfrom the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawingshereto annexed.

The general construction of the device is simple and inexpensive.

lVhen it is desired to swing the movable track-section from one positioninto another, the rock-shaf ts 36 are first manipulated to discngage thelevers or catches 39 and 40 from Contact with-the ends of the swingingtracksect-ion. The shaft l-L is then rotated, thus transmitting motionto the turn-table, which is caused to rotate upon its axis until theends of the movable track-section have been brought into alignment withthe terminals of the desired line of track. The rock-shafts 36 are thenrestored to their former position, thus locking the movabletrack-section in operative position.

lVhile we have in the foregoing described what we consider to be apreferable form of'.

our invention, we desire it to be understood that we reserve the righttok any changes and modifications which maybe resorted to withoutdeparting from the spirit of our` invention.

Having thus described our invention,` we claim- 1. In. arailroad-crossing, the combination of the turn-table, the track-sectionmounted thereon and having wheels or rollers traveling on a supplementalsegmental track, mechanism for operating the said turn-table, the

y supporting-ties, the oppositely-sliding rods mounted upon saidsupporting-ties, the levers pivoted upon the latter and having armsextended downwardly through staples upon the said supporting-ties, therock-shafts having cranks extending in opposite directions, the linksconnecting said cranks with the oppositely-sliding rods, and levers foroperating the said rock-shafts, substantially as set t'orth.

2. In a railroad-crossing, the combination of the base or platformhaving the upwardlyextending pintle and the supportingwheels or rollers,the turn-table dished on its under side and having a rectangular recess.in its upper side, the track-section mounteddetachably upon saidturn-table, they securing-plate mounted in the rectangular recess uponthe turn-table, and the connecting-bolt and washer, substantially as setforth.

8. The combination of the turn-table, the track-section mounted thereon,the pivoted levers or catches having their lower ends extended throughstaples upon oppositely-sliding rods, the crank-shafts havingoppositelyextending cranks, the links connecting the latter with theoppositely-sliding rods, and the operating-levers attached to therockshafts and having weights at their free ends, substantially as setforth.

4. In a railroad-crossing, the combination, with the turn-table having atrack-section mounted thereon, of the signal levers or guards mountedpivotally in the foundation of the crossing in alignment with. theterminals of the intersecting tracks and having weighted lower ends,said levers or guards being operated by contact with the movabletrack-section, substantially as set forth.

IOO

IIO

5. In a railroad-crossing, the combination of the tu r11-table, thetrack-section mounted thereon, the signal levers or guards' havingWeighted lower ends mounted pivotally n alignment with the terminals ofthe intersect ing track-sections, and means for looking the movabletrack-section in alignment with said terminals, substantially as setforth.

